Local and Regional Food Systems Collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1813/14202
Materials related to the study of local and regional food systems.

2015-08-02T18:58:08ZDeveloping a Vibrant Local Food Economy in New York Communitieshttp://hdl.handle.net/1813/14227
Developing a Vibrant Local Food Economy in New York Communities
Kroeger, Ruth; Zeltser, Yelena
A well connected local food system creates new jobs in the agricultural and processing sectors, increases tax revenue and contributes to vibrant local economies in New York State. The lack of appropriately scaled local processing and distribution infrastructure, however, creates challenges for small and medium-scale producers. Local governments have an important role to play in bringing together actors from across the food sector to develop innovative solutions to this problem. Through a series of case studies, we show how local governments can build a strong local food economy by promoting local and regional products, coordinating existing resources and assisting with development of business infrastructure for local producers.
working paper
2009-12-24T22:40:15ZMultifunctional Fetishism: Neoliberal Restructuring And The Valorization Of European Agriculturehttp://hdl.handle.net/1813/13493
Multifunctional Fetishism: Neoliberal Restructuring And The Valorization Of European Agriculture
Da, Via
This thesis conceptualizes the transformation of food from a source of cultural and social reproduction into a commodity for speculation and bargaining as a central component of neoliberal agricultural reforms. Within this framework, I underscore how the emergence of market-based strategies for the valorization of agricultural multifunctionality in Europe has deepened the subjection of agriculture and food to circuits of capital accumulation, rather than promoting the development of ecologically sustainable and socially embedded farming systems. In particular, I analyze how the strategic deployment of a Euro-centric notion of multifunctionality has allowed for the retention of subsidies decoupled from production which are compliant with WTO demands of trade liberalization and benefit large producers and food industries operating on a world scale. Correspondingly, I argue that the discourse of multifunctionality promoted by the EU is closely associated with the deployment of neoliberal concepts of self-help, social capital, and value-adding which seek to justify the contested withdrawal of the state from the provision of public support to small scale producers. As such, the commercialization of agriculture?s multiple functions has become a focal site of resistance for farmers? movements and rural communities across Europe advocating for an alternative model of agricultural development premised on the notion of food sovereignty. In this respect, the thesis concludes by focusing on forms of agrarian politics which seeks to transcend the structural contradictions of the neoliberal project of agricultural restructuring by re-embedding agriculture and food in their social and ecological foundations.
2009-08-19T16:35:07ZAgrarian Change and Social Transformation in Mozambique: 1928-2006http://hdl.handle.net/1813/13086
Agrarian Change and Social Transformation in Mozambique: 1928-2006
Olsefski, Tanya
This honors thesis considers the main lines of agrarian transformation in Mozambique in the context of two major political and social transitions: from the period of late colonial rule to the post-independence socialist oriented policies under The Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frelimo); and from the latter to the market oriented set of policies that became dominant in the post-Cold War era. The primary focus is on the transition from socialist policies characterized by the creation of cooperatives, state farms, and communal villages; to market-led transformations characterized by a system of private property in land and a system of production and exchange for the market. In the process, I look at the IMF-imposed Structural Adjustment Program and the civil war with the Renamo (The Mozambican National Resistance) movement that was armed and backed by apartheid South Africa, in shaping the nature of this transition.
I find that the creation of cooperatives, state farms, and communal villages was not successful at integrating peasants and bringing together communities to increase production largely because the policies implemented did not reflect the needs and desires of the peasantry. They often were inimical to the situation many peasants found themselves in. I also find that the liberalization of the economy was laden with policies that were unfavorable to the peasantry. The privatization of the cooperatives and state farms was accompanied by the reduction of state funded projects such as the development of rural infrastructures and road networks that are crucial in linking peasants to marketplaces.
In the future, Mozambique will need to empower local communities and develop rural markets and infrastructure if it is to increase production and generate a positive dynamic of development that can improve rural peoples livelihood and decrease levels of poverty.
2009-07-02T12:56:41ZThe Container And The Contained: Functional Preservation Of Historic Food Marketshttp://hdl.handle.net/1813/12840
The Container And The Contained: Functional Preservation Of Historic Food Markets
Donofrio, Gregory Alexander
The Container and the Contained explores the motivations, meanings, and methods of functional preservation planning through a case-study examination of three food market districts: Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington; Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston, Massachusetts; and Gansevoort Market, in New York, New York. The functional preservation planning of these districts spanned from the postWorld War II era into the present. Expanding upon the conventional objectives of historic preservation in the United States, with its narrow focus on the retention and restoration of architectural features, the goal of functional preservation is to document, protect, and perpetuate both the forms and the functions of historic resources. Interviews and archival research revealed that individuals involved with each market held a range of motivations for pursuing functional preservation planning. They all expressed a general belief that the historic character of cultural resources, however defined, was a manifestation of more than just architectural fabric. It also stems in part from how they are used, and by whom. Those who pursued functional preservation utilized a broad array of methods and tools to bring their plans to fruition, including not only established strategies like historic district designation and design review, but also novel approaches such as the regulation of building uses and oversight of market vendor products and sales techniques. Their efforts are set against the broader background of federal, state, and local market planning ideologies that evolved over the course of the twentieth century. Lastly, sources of data and quantitative methods of measuring the degree of functional preservation planning's success and failure are proposed.
2009-05-22T18:39:11ZThe Role of Municipalities in Regulating the Land Application of Sewage Sludges and Septagehttp://hdl.handle.net/1813/11806
The Role of Municipalities in Regulating the Land Application of Sewage Sludges and Septage
Harrison, Ellen Z; Eaton, Malaika M
Application of sewage sludges to agricultural lands is increasing. This use represents an economical disposal option and provides the benefit of recycling the nutrients and organic matter sludges contain. The practice, however, raises a number of concerns. Although the combination of federal and state regulatory requirements is significant in forming the initial base for sewage sludge management decisions, local regulations also play a part in seeking to protect the health, safety, and welfare of citizens, who may object to land application. The primary legal constraints that localities face are constitutional Commerce Clause challenges and conflicts with right-to-farm statutes.
The authority of a municipality varies from state to state. This article focuses on New York State, which has granted strong home rule to its municipalities. Examples of local ordinances and how they address particular concerns are described. Local ordinances vary widely in the issues and the level of detail they address. Issues addressed in local ordinances include human health risks, animal health risks, water quality, nuisance issues such as odor, liability and uncertainty, monitoring, and enforcement. They may impose restrictions on the type, amount, quality, or source of sludge. Some specify management practices, notification requirements, and additional monitoring beyond that required by federal or state rules. As a result of concern over the inability of state and federal agencies to provide consistent enforcement of rules due to staffing shortages, local ordinances frequently supply enforcement provisions. Local ordinances may also include fees to cover municipal costs.
2001-01-01T00:00:00ZAn Overview of Production, Processing, Marketing and Utilisation of Okra in Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeriahttp://hdl.handle.net/1813/10698
An Overview of Production, Processing, Marketing and Utilisation of Okra in Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria
Farinde, A. J.; Owolarafe, O. K.; Ogungbemi, O. I.
This is a paper from International Commission of Agricultural Engineering (CIGR, Commission Internationale du Genie Rural) E-Journal Volume 9 (2007): An Overview of Production, Processing, Marketing and Utilisation of Okra in Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria. Manuscript MES 07 002. Vol. IX. July, 2007.
Rosana G. Moreira, Editor-in-Chief; Texas A&M University
2007-07-01T00:00:00ZLearning Sustainability of Rural Tourism: Farm Competitiveness and Landscape Health Risk Assessmenthttp://hdl.handle.net/1813/10697
Learning Sustainability of Rural Tourism: Farm Competitiveness and Landscape Health Risk Assessment
Agostini, S.
This is a paper from International Commission of Agricultural Engineering (CIGR, Commission Internationale du Genie Rural) E-Journal Volume 9 (2007): Learning Sustainability of Rural Tourism: Farm Competitiveness and Landscape Health Risk Assessment. Manuscript MES 07 001. Vol. IX. October, 2007.
Rosana G. Moreira, Editor-in-Chief; Texas A&M University
2007-10-01T00:00:00ZEntrepreneurship Development in Agriculture through Agro Processing Centre: a Case Study of Almora District in NW Himalayahttp://hdl.handle.net/1813/10681
Entrepreneurship Development in Agriculture through Agro Processing Centre: a Case Study of Almora District in NW Himalaya
Singh, K.; Srivastava, A.; Srinivas, K.; Singh, S.; Gupta, H.
This is a paper from International Commission of Agricultural Engineering (CIGR, Commission Internationale du Genie Rural) E-Journal Volume 9 (2007): Entrepreneurship Development in Agriculture through Agro Processing Centre: a Case Study of Almora District in NW Himalaya
Rosana G. Moreira, Editor-in-Chief; Texas A&M University
2007-01-01T00:00:00ZAn Overview of Agricultural Mechanization and its Environmental Management in Nigeriahttp://hdl.handle.net/1813/10680
An Overview of Agricultural Mechanization and its Environmental Management in Nigeria
Asoegwu, S.N.; Asoegwu, A.O.
This is a paper from International Commission of Agricultural Engineering (CIGR, Commission Internationale du Genie Rural) E-Journal Volume 9 (2007): An Overview of Agricultural Mechanization and its Environmental Management in Nigeria. Invited Overview. Vol. IX. May, 2007.
Rosana G. Moreira, Editor-in-Chief; Texas A&M University
2007-05-01T00:00:00ZMaturity, Quality and Marketing of Fruits and Vegetableshttp://hdl.handle.net/1813/10568
Maturity, Quality and Marketing of Fruits and Vegetables
Irtwange, S.
This is a paper from International Commission of Agricultural Engineering (CIGR, Commission Internationale du Genie Rural) E-Journal Volume 8 (2006): Maturity, Quality and Marketing of Fruits and Vegetables. Invited Overview. Vol. VIII. February, 2006.
Rosana G. Moreira, Editor-in-Chief; Texas A&M University
2006-02-01T00:00:00Z